MissViaggio in Vilnius
05 March 2022
Wondering where to eat gluten-free in Vilnius? Don't worry, I've been there and was surprised to find places where you can order gluten-free food.
Before we traveled to Vilnius, we didn't know much about Lithuania's capital. Only that it shares a border with Belarus, which in turn is allied with Russia. And that its Old Town is World Heritage because it is so well preserved (we can confirm that). But we also learned that Vilnius has its own republic, Užupis, with its own president and constitution (it declared its independence in 1997). That's funny. And we learned that Vilnius is the only European capital where you can fly over the Old Town in a hot air balloon. Even in winter, because we saw them from our hotel room but unfortunately didn't have time to book one (still on my bucket list).
Jurgis ir Drakonas
Jurgis ir Drakonas is a nice restaurant in the center of Vilnius that also offers gluten-free pizzas. We stopped in there after our first day of exploring Vilnius and were glad we came. The place is cozy and the staff is helpful and knowledgeable. And the most important thing: The gluten-free pizza was good.
What to Do in Vilnius?
Start your day with a free walking tour through the Old Town and visit the republic of Užupis.
Climb the Gediminas Hill. You will get a spectacular 360° view of the city. On the left side you can see the red roofs of the old town. On the other side you can see the Neris River and the modern city with its skyscrapers and fancy buildings. We were there for sunset and enjoyed the beautiful panorama.
Discover the Jewish Quarter (also known as the Glass Quarter) in Vilnius, which was the center of Jewish life for many centuries (before the Nazis came and turned it into a ghetto and murdered most of its inhabitants). To commemorate the Jewish heritage, you can find paintings on some of the walls of the buildings.
Visit Literatu Street and see the artwork that decorates the walls and honors 200 authors and artists.
Stroll through the Old Town at night and enjoy the lights and beautiful architecture.
RoseHip Vegan Bistro
One place you should definitely include in your Vilnius itinerary is the vegan bistro RoseHip. The first RoseHip opened five years ago (in spring 2018), as there were hardly any restaurants with vegan dishes on the menu in Lithuania at the time. RoseHip decided to change that and offer dishes from different countries, such as Buddha Bowls and burgers, as well as delicious desserts. We liked the modern and colorful place, the food was delicious. We opted for Buddha Bowls (we can definitely recommend the Mexican and the Buckwheat Bowl with pumpkin and feta). So if you're in Vilnius, make sure to stop by at some point on your trip.
St. Casimir's Fair
On the first weekend in March, people are honouring Saint Casimir - the patron of Lithuania - with a three-day-fair. Saint Casimir, who died at the age of only 26, was always committed to the poor and initiated many charitable projects. He tried to live what his name means: to be a man of peace. For this reason he is very popular among Lithuanians.
Over the centuries, St. Casimir's fair evolved into a spring festival celebrating the return of warmth and greenery. Nowadays much of the festival revolves around food - smoked eel, sausages or stew. We strolled around enjoying the aromas that filled the streets. It was fantastic.
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